I'm Confused...Someone Explain This To Me

[The Happy Stromboli]

So if the family that was previously denied for a pre-existing condition won't be denied any longer but can't pay the huge cost that the insurance company is now charging...what's the point? The family still can't get coverage and NOW will be fined by the United States government because they are without insurance....?

"For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul


What has this accomplished?

 

[MotF Bane]

What has this accomplished?

The Democrats have finally repaid the health insurance companies for their campaign donations.

 

[IronWing]

The Democrats have finally repaid the health insurance companies for their campaign donations.

Yep. Real reform died in this round.

 

[Craig234]

If I understand it correctly, their are limits on how much they are charged. They go from no insurance available to insurance with a cap on the price.

 

[flavio]

can't pay the huge cost that the insurance company is now charging

What huge cost are you referring to?

 

[Slew Foot]

What huge cost are you referring to?

The standard cost for decent family coverage is a little over 1k per month, im sure the ins cos will raise rates at the maximum theyre allowed to every year.

 

[shira]

So if the family that was previously denied for a pre-existing condition won't be denied any longer but can't pay the huge cost that the insurance company is now charging...what's the point? The family still can't get coverage and NOW will be fined by the United States government because they are without insurance....?

"For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul


What has this accomplished?

Because of the mandate, a much larger group of people - including young, healthy, low-risk people who currently opt out of insurance - will be purchasing insurance, spreading the risk and lowering the cost of a policy for your example family. In addition, if that family has total income of less than 4 times the poverty level (4 x 19k = 76k for a two-parent, two-child family), they'll be eligible for subsidies to their premiums.

Edit: The actual income limit for a family of four is 88k, since the poverty level is 22k.

 

[flavio]

The standard cost for decent family coverage is a little over 1k per month, im sure the ins cos will raise rates at the maximum theyre allowed to every year.

I got a decent family plan for about $160/month through ehealthinsurance.

 

[cubeless]

I got a decent family plan for about $160/month through ehealthinsurance.

with what coverage? and obviously no pre-existing conditions...

i just ask this because if that's all a plan that really covers a family sufficiently costs a month, then there'd be no hc problem...

i got my son a plan that was about the same as that, but it was basically catastrophic only, no wellcare, etc... and no preexisting conditions and single and male and 25 years old...

my plan, however is around 8k a year plus deductables for the rest of us for the whole shebang...

 

[EndGame]

To answer one of the questions, ins. companies will be able to tack on 150% over the cost of a "normal" policy if you have a pre existing condition........that's easy math. Add that 150% to the amount premiums will be going up across the board for non high risk/pre existing policies and you'll have a general idea.

Secondly, if you haven't figured out already, this "reform" is nothing short of a few year reprieve for insurance companies to get what they can while they can. Why? because after insurance companies raise their rates, it will be but a few short years until all of america is shouting for the "public option" and they're effectively out of business. The "big scam" as it pertains to health care has arrived!

 

[flavio]

with what coverage? and obviously no pre-existing conditions...

i just ask this because if that's all a plan that really covers a family sufficiently costs a month, then there'd be no hc problem...

I don't remember exactly this was about 6 months ago. It was decent coverage, decent co-pay, no pre-existing conditions. I know it would have been a hell of a lot more with pre-existing.

 

[ebaycj]

The Democrats have finally repaid the health insurance companies for their campaign donations.

The Democrats have given the insurance companies a windfall, and with that, an opportunity to act like moral reasonable corporate citizens of this country.

I predict if the insurance companies fail to do that, they will be quickly obsoleted.

 

[ebaycj]

I got a decent family plan for about $160/month through ehealthinsurance.

What's your max lifetime payout for the policy, and what's your max out of pocket per year?

I'm guessing the max lifetime payout is low, which means if you have your family in the car, and get into a (relatively bad) accident, you could be looking at maxing out your lifetime payout in one shot.

 

[LTC8K6]

Because of the mandate, a much larger group of people - including young, healthy, low-risk people who currently opt out of insurance - will be purchasing insurance, spreading the risk and lowering the cost of a policy for your example family. In addition, if that family has total income of less than 4 times the poverty level (4 x 19k = 76k for a two-parent, two-child family), they'll be eligible for subsidies to their premiums.

Edit: The actual income limit for a family of four is 88k, since the poverty level is 22k.

I doubt it. My guess is that the young, healthy, low-risk people will continue to opt out, and just pay the fine, since it looks like it will be less than the insurance. They will only pay for insurance when they get sick and need it.

In order to do all this subsidizing, somebody has to be getting the shaft...

 

[sportage]

Well... answering the op's question.. Keeping democrats in power and kicking out those republican like Mccain and House Republican Leader John Boehner as well as Grassley will allow democrats to change 2014 to late 2012. And regulate the insurance industry so you WILL be able to afford insurance.
Or... we could always go back to letting the insurance companies run the show. And see where THAT gets ya...

 

[BudAshes]

Well... answering the op's question.. Keeping democrats in power and kicking out those republican like Mccain and House Republican Leader John Boehner as well as Grassley will allow democrats to change 2014 to late 2012. And regulate the insurance industry so you WILL be able to afford insurance.
Or... we could always go back to letting the insurance companies run the show. And see where THAT gets ya...

But corporations never screw their costumers for profits...

 

[LTC8K6]

People must have completely forgotten what government regulated means if they want the insurance industry to be government regulated. I didn't think I was that old...